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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Polymer-surfactant interactions: binding mechanism of sodium dodecyl sulfate to poly(diallyldimethylammonium
Gilat Nizri1, Serge Lagerge, Alexander Kamyshny
1Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
Abstract:
The binding mechanism of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDAC, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, has been comprehensively studied by combining binding isotherms data with microcalorimetry, zeta potential, and conductivity measurements, as well as ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. The obtained results demonstrate that surfactant-polymer interaction is governed by both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, and is cooperative in the presence of salt. This binding results in the formation of nanoparticles, which are positively or negatively charged depending on the molar ratio of surfactant to PDAC monomeric units. From microcalorimetry data it was concluded that the exothermic character of the interaction diminishes with the increase in the surfactant/polymer ratio as well as with an increase in electrolyte concentration.
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